Flexible, positionable and grasping camera or other device mount apparatus

Abstract

A camera or other items positioning device including a relatively hard endoskeleton substantially covered by a softer corpulent body. A mount region is coupled to the endoskeleton and configured to permit the releasable attachment of a camera or other device. The attachment mechanism may be mechanically or magnetically based, or both. The soft body permits the devices to be readily grasped by a user and to wrap securely about mounting structures of different size and shape. Several embodiments, including tripod, extra leg and monopod embodiments, are disclosed.

1 . A camera or other item positioning device, comprising:
 a mount base;   at least three legs that coupled to and extend from the mount base, wherein each leg includes a leg endoskeleton section that is bendable by the hand of a user and substantially retains the position to which it is bent; and   at least three continuous bodies of soft compressible material, one each substantially surrounding one of the leg endoskeleton sections along at least half of its length.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least three foot members each formed of a material that is harder than the soft compressive material, one each coupled to the legs at an end opposite the mount base. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mount base includes an ancillary article attachment structure for the releaseable attachment of an ancillary article to the mount base. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment structure includes at least one of a threaded protrusion and magnetically active material. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one foot member has a recess between to outwardly disposed protrusions. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible material of the body has shape memory. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the continuous bodies extends substantially the entire length of its corresponding endoskeleton section. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at the mount base a releasable mechanical fastener that includes a pivot mounted clip for mounting an ancillary article. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the ancillary article attachment structure includes magnetic-based releasable attachment and an anti-rotation mechanism to impede rotation of an ancillary article that is magnetically coupled to the mount base. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least three legs is longer than the other two legs. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least three legs is detachable. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a skin encasing at least one of the continuous bodies, the skin having an outwardly disposed section of a first material and an inwardly disposed section of a second material that is different from the first material. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a skin encasing each of the continuous bodies, wherein the skin is formed integrally with the body of the same material, yet more dense. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each leg includes an attachment member through which a stabilizing cord may pass. 
   
   
       15 . A camera or other item positioning device, comprising:
 a mount base;   at least three legs that coupled to and extend from the mount base, wherein each leg is comprised of a plurality of interconnected leg members that are moveable with respect to one another and configured such that when moved to a given position, the plurality of interconnected leg member substantially retain that position; and   at least three continuous bodies of soft compressible material, each substantially surrounding two or more of the plurality of interconnected leg members of that leg along their length.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the mount base includes an ancillary article attachment structure for the releaseable attachment of an ancillary article to the mount base, and the attachment structure includes at least one of a threaded protrusion and magnetically active material. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the continuous bodies extends substantially the entire length of its corresponding endoskeleton section. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible material of the body has shape memory. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at the mount base a releasable mechanical fastener that includes a pivot mounted clip for mounting an ancillary article. 
   
   
       20 . A camera or other item positioning device, comprising:
 a mount base including an ancillary article attachment structure for the releaseable attachment of an ancillary article to the mount base;   at least one leg coupled to and extend from the mount base, the leg comprised of a plurality of interconnected leg members that are movable with respect to one another and configured such that when moved to a given position, the plurality of interconnected leg member substantially retain that new position; and   a substantially continuous body of soft compressible material that substantially surrounds three or more of the plurality of interconnected leg members along their length.